Crypto multiple security asset creation and redemption platform

ABSTRACT

An asset trading system utilizing a distributed ledger and configured to: when a creation request to create a digital fund token representing at least one share of a fund having a plurality of different assets (i) is received, (ii) is electronically signed with a private key associated with a first addressed account, and (iii) indicates a composition of the at least one share of the fund: place the plurality of different assets represented by the at least one share of the fund into an escrow account; create the digital fund token, wherein the digital fund token indicates the composition of the share of the fund; and record the creation of the digital fund token on a distributed ledger.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/396,030 filed on Dec. 30, 2016, entitled “CRYPTO MULTIPLE SECURITYASSET CREATION AND REDEMPTION PLATFORM” which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/273,848 filed on Dec. 31,2015, entitled “CRYPTO ETF CREATION AND REDEMPTION PLATFORM”, both ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/141,582, filed Apr. 28, 2016, entitled“DIGITALLY ENCRYPTED SECURITIES PLATFORM, ALONG WITH METHODS AND SYSTEMSFOR THE SAME” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/156,027, filed on May 1, 2015, entitled “DIGITALLY ENCRYPTEDCUSTODIAL REGISTRY FOR SECURITIES LENDING, BORROWING AND TRADING USING ADISTRIBUTED LEDGER”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/246,713,filed on Oct. 27, 2015, entitled “DIGITALLY ENCRYPTED CUSTODIAL REGISTRYFOR SECURITIES LENDING, BORROWING AND TRADING USING A DISTRIBUTEDLEDGER”, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate totrading. More specifically, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure relate to systems and methods for creating, redeeming, andtrading multiple security assets such as various types of fundsincluding, but not limited to exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), mutualfunds, index funds, open-end funds, closed-end funds, high yield bondfunds, corporate bond funds, municipal bond funds, government bondfunds, bond funds, money market funds, balanced funds, equity funds,fixed income funds, global funds, international funds, specialty funds,index funds, commodity funds, currency funds, and/or real estate fundsusing distributed and cryptographic (“crypto”) techniques.

BACKGROUND

Recent increasing adoption of crypto currencies (such as Bitcoin)throughout the world creates challenges for existing trading systems.For example, market data and ownership data are stored differently.Additionally, existing trading systems use protocols for pre-tradecommunications and execution that are not compatible with tradingsystems that trade crypto currencies.

The present disclosure overcomes these and other limitations of existingtrading systems and provides other benefits, as will become clearer tothose skilled in the art from the following description.

SUMMARY

An asset trading system utilizing a distributed ledger and configuredto: when a creation request to create a digital fund token representingat least one share of a fund having a plurality of different assets (i)is received, (ii) is electronically signed with a private key associatedwith a first addressed account, and (iii) indicates a composition of theat least one share of the fund: place the plurality of different assetsrepresented by the at least one share of the fund into an escrowaccount; create the digital fund token, wherein the digital fund tokenindicates the composition of the share of the fund; and record thecreation of the digital fund token on a distributed ledger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described and explainedthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network-based operating environmentin accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of components in a Crypto Fund Creation andRedemption Platform in accordance with various embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a process of directly creating Crypto Fund shares inaccordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of directly creating CryptoFund shares according to one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of directly redeeming Crypto Fund shares inaccordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of directly redeemingCrypto Fund shares according to one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a process of indirectly creating Crypto Fund sharesin accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of indirectly creatingCrypto Fund shares according to one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a process of indirectly redeeming Crypto Fund sharesin accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of indirectly redeemingCrypto Fund shares according to one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of creating Crypto Fundshares according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process of redeeming Crypto Fundshares according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a computer system with which someembodiments of the present disclosure may be utilized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate totrading. More specifically, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure relate to systems and methods for creating, redeeming, andtrading multiple security assets such as various types of fundsincluding, but not limited to exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), mutualfunds, index funds, open-end funds, closed-end funds, high yield bondfunds, corporate bond funds, municipal bond funds, government bondfunds, bond funds, money market funds, balanced funds, equity funds,fixed income funds, global funds, international funds, specialty funds,index funds, commodity funds, currency funds, and/or real estate fundsusing distributed and cryptographic techniques, and, in particular, aCrypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform.

A mutual fund is a professionally managed investment fund that poolsmoney from multiples inventors to purchase a group of securities and/orother assets. An index fund is a mutual fund designed to follow certainpreset rules (such as by tracking prominent indexes such as the S&P 900or Dow jones Industrial Average) so that the fund can track a specifiedgroup of securities and/or other assets. An ETF is a marketable securitythat tracks an index, a commodity, bonds, or a group of assets such as amutual fund or index fund. ETFs have two levels of trading activity:primary and secondary. In the primary market, ETF authorized providersexchange a published group of securities in-kind plus a published cashcomponent in exchange for ETF shares. These groups are generally verylarge, and one creation or redemption unit is equal to a fixed number ofETF shares. The ratio varies by product, but is usually 50,000 ETFshares per unit. fund managers can issue shares to or redeem shares frominstitutional investors (such as broker-dealers) in large blocks (suchas 50,000 shares) called creation units. Creation unit transactions canbe conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designatedportfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantialreplication, or a representation, of the securities included in theETF's benchmark Index. Typically, individual shares of the ETF may onlybe purchased and sold on national securities exchanges, electroniccrossing networks and other alternative trading systems throughbroker-dealers at market prices. Most institutional and retail clientstrade ETF shares in the secondary market. In exemplary embodiments, ETFshare creation and redemption can happen in two ways: (1) in-kindcreation of ETF shares; and (2) cash creation of ETF shares. Inexemplary embodiments of in-kind creation of ETF shares, a basket/groupof securities are exchanged for a block of ETF shares (“creation unit”)and the ability to create/redeem ETF shares constantly is hailed as apositive characteristic. In exemplary embodiments of cash creation ofETF shares, a market maker (MM) or an Authorized Provider (AP) cannottrade certain ETF components for delivery to an originator and a cashequivalent is substituted to the originator. Not all ETFs permit cashcreation.

ETFs, mutual funds, index funds, other funds and/or other multiplesecurity assets are unique in that they are composed of individualsecurities. Current systems do not address creation or redemption ofETFs, mutual funds, index funds, other funds and/or other multiplesecurity shares in cryptographic trading systems. It is understood thatany of these funds and/or other multiple security shares (such as ETFs,mutual funds, index funds, etc.) can be created and redeemed usingcryptographic trading systems described herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems forfund creation and redemption through the use of the Crypto Fund Creationand Redemption Platform. The Crypto Fund Creation and RedemptionPlatform uses distributed ledgers/crypto ledgers (such as block chains)to document and verify ownership and availability of: (1) the digitalrepresentations of securities (referred to herein as “digital tokens”)used to create the Crypto Fund shares (referred to herein as “digitalfund tokens”); and (2) the digital representations of the funds and/orother multiple security shares (referred to herein as “digital fundtokens”) themselves. The digital tokens and digital fund tokens areassociated with various digital accounts referred to as addressedaccounts or wallets. The distributed ledger records changes of ownershipof the digital tokens and digital fund tokens from one digital accountto another digital account.

There are various ways in which the digital fund tokens can be createdand redeemed, including but not limited to: (1) directly creating andredeeming digital fund tokens based on a plurality of underlyingsecurities and/or other assets stored in an escrow-type account; and (2)indirectly creating and redeeming digital fund tokens by digitaltokenizing individual securities and/or other assets before creatingdigital fund tokens based on the digital tokens for the individualsecurities. In the first type of exemplary embodiments, digital fundtokens are created directly based on underlying securities stored in anescrow-type account. In these second type of exemplary embodiments, thedigital fund tokens can be redeemed directly for the underlyingsecurities stored in the escrow-type account. In the second type ofexemplary embodiments, digital tokens for the individual securitiesand/or other assets are created first for securities stored in anescrow-type account and then digital fund tokens are created based onthe digital tokens for the individual securities. In these second typeof exemplary embodiments, the digital fund tokens are first redeemed fordigital tokens for individual securities, which are then redeemed forthe individual underlying securities.

In exemplary embodiments, cash creation might be necessary when in-kindcreation is difficult. There can be frictions that bog down in-kindcreation and redemption. Primary market liquidity depends on theAuthorized Provider (AP)'s ability to transact in the basket/group ofsecurities. In certain cases, this is difficult or nearly impossible,such as ETFs tracking non-U.S. benchmark indexes when the constituentsecurities are restricted from foreign ownership or when currencytransactions taxes may be large. The cash creation of ETF shares is awork-around. In addition, in the case of leveraged ETFs, for whichleverage is obtained through the use of total return swaps, cashcreations are the only option, since the fund holdings areover-the-counter derivatives contracts. Unfortunately, cash creation ofETF shares might lead to serious technical problems, such as when alarge cash creation order is accepted before a market closes, leading toa sizable difference in Net Asset Value (NAV) between the ETF shares andthe underlying stocks. As trading in the underlying index is halted atthe end of the trading day and the fund includes a sizeable quantity ofcash such that if the market goes up a certain quantity, the fund mayincrease a much smaller amount, such as the case where the fund includedapproximately the same value in cash as it did in the value of theunderlying stocks and while the stocks increase in value over night intrading, the cash itself did not.

In both of these situations, the ETF digital token provides thefollowing technical solutions. First, for an ETF that experiences someilliquidity in one or more of its component assets, but does not allowcash creation, the digital token can be substituted for the missingcomponent(s), where the digital token represents component shares heldin escrow (or in some other segregated form). Illiquidity can be causedby a number of factors, such as an overseas market being closed, atemporary trading halt, ownership restrictions, etc. Second, for an ETFthat accepts cash creation, but trading in the underlying componentstocks has been halted, the digital token can represent some or all ofthe individual component shares, and allow them to trade on a secondarymarket to prevent huge differences in Net Asset Value (NAV).

Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein address problemsrelating to ETFs, by (1) allowing for increased liquidity, transparency,efficiency and accountability; (2) reducing investor risk for retailinvestors in ETFs; and (3) reducing market/systematic risk due to ETFliquidity problems. In addition, the systems and methods describedherein address problems relating to fund and other multiple securityassets generally, such as double spending and long settlementtransaction times by using a distributed ledger and digital fund tokensto track transactions of a fund or other multiple security asset.

As noted above, in exemplary embodiments digital fund tokens are createdand redeemed directly (without using intermediary digital tokens forindividual securities and/or other assets). In these embodiments, tocreate Crypto Fund shares, a clearing bank, fund manager, or otherauthorized entity can create the digital fund tokens on behalf of theowner of the non-digital securities and associate the digital fundtokens with a fund manager's digital account (for example “managerwallet”). In exemplary embodiments, the fund manager is managing atleast one fund including a plurality of securities and/or other assets.In exemplary embodiments, the underlying securities and/or other assetsthat comprise the fund are first acquired and segregated into anescrow-type account in a manner such that they cannot be used for anypurpose other than as collateral guaranteeing that the digital fundtokens created are supported by the actual underlying securities and/orassets. Once the securities and/or other assets that comprise the fundare segregated into the escrow-type account, the fund manager can theninvoke the creation of one or more digital fund tokens for theparticular fund. In exemplary embodiments, a single digital fund tokenrepresents a plurality of underlying securities and/or other assets thatrepresent and/or are collateral for the digital fund token in theescrow-type account. In exemplary embodiments, the one or more digitalfund tokens are then created and their creation is recorded on adistributed ledger.

In these embodiment where digital fund tokens are created and redeemeddirectly (without using intermediary digital tokens for individualsecurities and/or other assets), to redeem Crypto Fund shares, theclearing bank, fund manager, or other authorized entity can redeem theat least one digital fund token on behalf of the owner of thenon-digital securities and destroy the digital fund tokens. In exemplaryembodiments, the clearing bank, fund manager, or other authorized entityreceives a request from an investor to redeem at least one digital fundtoken and responds by transferring some of the actual securities and/orother assets that correspond to the at least one digital fund token outof the escrow-type account to an account of the owner and destroys theat least one digital fund token which has been redeemed. In exemplaryembodiments, the redemption and/or destruction of the one or moredigital fund tokens is recorded on a distributed ledger.

As noted above, in exemplary embodiments digital fund tokens are createdand redeemed indirectly (using intermediary digital tokens forindividual securities and/or other assets). In these embodiments, tocreate Crypto Fund shares, a clearing bank, fund manager, or otherauthorized entity can generate digital fund tokens on behalf of theowner of the non-digital securities and associate the digital fundtokens with a fund manager's digital account (for example “managerwallet”) by first creating digital tokens for a plurality of individualsecurities and/or other assets and then creating digital fund tokensfrom the digital tokens for the plurality of individual securitiesand/or other assets. In exemplary embodiments, the fund manager ismanaging at least one fund including a plurality of securities and/orother assets. In exemplary embodiments, the underlying securities and/orother assets that comprise the fund are first acquired and segregatedinto escrow-type accounts on a security/other asset basis in a mannersuch that they cannot be used for any purpose other than as collateralguaranteeing that the digital tokens and digital fund tokens created aresupported by the actual underlying securities and/or assets. Once thesecurities and/or other assets that comprise the fund are segregatedinto the escrow-type accounts, the fund manager can then invoke thecreation of one or more digital fund tokens for the particular fund. Inexemplary embodiments, a plurality of digital tokens representing aplurality of different securities and/or other assets is created andtheir creation is recorded on a distributed ledger. In exemplaryembodiments, at least one digital fund token is generated based on theplurality of digital tokens and the digital tokens are placed in anescrow-type account. In other embodiments, when the at least one digitalfund token is generated based on the plurality of digital tokens, thedigital tokens are destroyed. In exemplary embodiments, the digital fundtoken represents a plurality of digital tokens, where an underlyingsecurity or other asset represents and/or is collateral for each of theplurality of digital tokens in the escrow-type account. In exemplaryembodiments, creation of the one or more digital fund tokens is recordedon a distributed ledger.

In these embodiment where digital fund tokens are created and redeemedindirectly (using intermediary digital tokens for individual securitiesand/or other assets), to redeem Crypto Fund shares, the clearing bank,fund manager, or other authorized entity can redeem the at least onedigital fund token on behalf of the owner of the non-digital securitiesand destroy the digital fund tokens. In exemplary embodiments, theclearing bank, fund manager, or other authorized entity receives arequest from an investor to redeem at least one digital fund token andresponds by moving the digital tokens represented by the at least onedigital fund token from the escrow-type account and destroying the atleast one digital fund token. In other embodiments where the digitaltokens represented by the at least one digital fund token werepreviously destroyed, new digital tokens represented by the at least onedigital fund token are created and the at least one digital fund tokenis destroyed. The actual securities and/or other assets that correspondto the digital tokens that represented the redeemed digital fund tokenare then transferred from the escrow-type account to an account of theowner and the at least one digital fund token that is redeemed and thedigital tokens that represented the at least one digital fund token thatis redeemed are destroyed if they were not previously. In exemplaryembodiments, the redemption and/or destruction of the one or moredigital fund tokens and/or digital tokens represented by the digitalfund tokens is recorded on a distributed ledger.

The fund manager can create a transaction to transfer the digital tokensto a creation wallet where the new fund shares will be created from thedigital tokens. The transaction can specify the quantity and type ofeach security used to create the fund shares (such as 50 shares ofsecurity A, 100 shares of security B, 40 shares of security C). Once thedigital tokens are associated with the creation wallet, the Crypto FundCreation and Redemption Platform can generate one or more new digitalfund tokens.

Each digital fund token is comprised of the specified type and quantityof securities for the fund (such as an ETF, mutual fund, index fund,etc.). The creation of the digital fund token is recorded to thedistributed ledger. The Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform cancreate a transaction to transfer the newly created digital fund tokensback to the manager wallet. Once the digital fund tokens are associatedwith the manager wallet, the manager can then place a sell order totrade the digital fund tokens in a secondary market (for example on acrypto exchange) on behalf of the owner.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide methods and systemsfor fund redemption (such as, a redemption of the underlying securitiesof an ETF, mutual fund, index fund, etc.). In some embodiments, an ownerof the digital fund token may place a request for the redemption of thedigital tokens and/or the underlying non-digital securities to themanager controlling the manager wallet associated with the digital fundtokens.

The manager can request that the digital fund token be exchanged for itsunderlying securities by creating a transaction to transfer the digitalfund token from the manager wallet to a redemption wallet, along with aredemption transaction request. Once associated with the redemptionwallet, the digital fund token can be redeemed for its underlyingsecurities in the form of digital tokens. After the components areexchanged for the digital fund token, the digital fund token isdestroyed so that it no longer exists. The conversion of the digitalfund token into its components can be recorded to the distributedledger. The Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform can create atransaction to transfer the digital tokens from the redemption wallet tothe manager wallet. When the digital tokens are associated with themanager wallet, the digital tokens can be redeemed for non-digitalsecurities and provided to their owner.

As discussed above, the Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platformuses distributed ledgers/crypto ledgers (such as block chains) todocument and verify ownership and availability of the digital fundtokens and the digital tokens used to create the digital fund tokens.Cryptographic techniques can be used to transfer the digital tokens andthe digital fund tokens from one digital account to another digitalaccount. For example, the digital fund tokens can be transferred toother owners using public-key cryptography and bidirectional encryption.Public-key cryptography requires a key pair, where the two keys aremathematically linked. One key is a public key that is freely sharedamong nodes in a peer-to-peer network. The other key is a private keythat is not shared with the public. The public key is used to encryptplaintext and to verify a digital signature. The private key is used todecrypt cipher text and to digitally sign transactions. Each digitalaccount can have an associated key pair. Transaction messages may bedigitally signed by the sender's private key to authenticate thesender's identity. Then, the sender's digitally-signed transactionmessage may be decrypted using the sender's public key to verify thatthe sender originated the transaction.

Ownership of the digital tokens and digital fund tokens may be based onownership entries in distributed ledgers that are maintained by networknodes. The distributed ledgers (such as block chain for Bitcoin) recordentries for each change in ownership of each digital token and digitalfund token and may be mathematically linked to the key pairs. Forexample, to transfer a digital fund token from one owner to another (forexample one addressed account to another addressed account), atransaction message (such as in packets or other data structures) may bebroadcast to nodes on a peer-to-peer network. In an example, when thedigital fund token is being transferred from the creation wallet to themanager wallet, the transaction message can be signed by the creationwallet's private key and may include information such as a history ofthe chain of title of the digital fund token and/or its components, thenumber of shares being transferred, and the manager wallet's publickey-based address. When a majority of the nodes in the network agreethat the sender has the proper chain of title, ownership is changed tothe owner of the creation wallet and the ledger is updated to indicatethe transaction.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. However, uponreading the disclosure, it will be apparent to one skilled in the artthat embodiments may be practiced without some of these specificdetails. Additionally, while ETFs, mutual funds, and/or index funds areused as examples, the methods and systems described herein can be usedwith other assets that include multiple securities or other assets.

Benefits of the Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform includetransparency of ownership, easy recognition of the composition of amultiple security asset (such as any type of fund, including but notlimited to the funds described herein), and creation and redemption ofCrypto Fund shares. Cryptographically signing the transactions ensuresauthentication, authorization, and provenance.

The techniques introduced here can be embodied as special-purposehardware (such as circuitry), as programmable circuitry appropriatelyprogrammed with software and/or firmware, or as a combination ofspecial-purpose and programmable circuitry. Hence, embodiments mayinclude a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructionsthat may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) toperform a process. The machine-readable medium may include, for example,floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-only memories(CD-ROMs), magneto-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), randomaccess memories (RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories(EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories(EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other type ofmedia/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronicinstructions.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network-based operating environment100 in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be used. Asillustrated in FIG. 1 , operating environment 100 includes applications105A-105N running on one or more computing devices 110A-110M (such as amobile device, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a mobile media device,a mobile gaming device, a vehicle-based computer, a dedicated terminal,a public terminal, a kiosk, or a desktop or laptop computer). In someembodiments, applications 105A-105N for carrying out operations such asgenerating orders (such as orders to purchase digital fund shares) andchecking account balances may be stored on the computing devices or maybe stored remotely.

Computing devices 110A-110M can include mechanisms for receiving andsending traffic by connecting through network 120 to Crypto FundCreation and Redemption Platform 125, broker-dealer(s) 115, fund manager130, and clearing bank 135. In some embodiments, computing devices110A-110M can retrieve or submit information to Crypto Fund Creation andRedemption Platform 125 and run one or more applications with customizedcontent retrieved by Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform 125,broker-dealer(s) 115, fund manager 130, and clearing bank 135. Forexample, computing devices 110A-110M each can execute a browserapplication or a customized client to enable interaction between thecomputing devices 110A-110M and Crypto Fund Creation and RedemptionPlatform 125, fund manager 130, clearing bank 135, and broker-dealer(s)115.

Broker-dealer(s) 115 are entities (for example natural persons,companies, or other organizations) that engage in the business oftrading transactional items (such as ETFs, mutual fund shares, indexfund shares, currencies, other types of securities) for their ownaccount or on behalf of their customers. When executing trade orders onbehalf of a customer, the entity acts as a broker. When executing tradesfor its own account, the entity acts as a dealer. Broker-dealer(s) 115may receive orders from computing devices 110A-M, fund manager 130, orthey may create their own orders. Broker-dealer(s) 115 may communicateorders to fund manager 130 and Crypto Fund Creation and RedemptionPlatform 125 via network 120.

Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform 125 can run on one or moreservers and can be used to create, redeem, and trade digital fundtokens. In some embodiments, as illustrated, Crypto Fund Creation andRedemption Platform 125 includes a fund creation module 215 and a fundredemption module 220 (both described in more detail with reference toFIG. 1 below).

In exemplary embodiments implementing direct creation of digital fundtokens, the fund creation module 215 can generate digital fund tokensdirectly once the underlying assets are segregated into the escrow-typeaccount. In exemplary embodiments implementing indirect creation ofdigital fund tokens, the fund creation module 215 can receive digitaltokens, which are digital representations of securities (such as bonds,stocks, assets, liabilities, currencies, commodities) into an associatedcreation wallet and create digital fund tokens from an assigned mixtureof the digital tokens. The digital fund tokens represent shares of afund (such as an ETF, mutual fund, and/or index fund) and thus arecomprised of the digital tokens of more than one security, but are alsoa new security. The digital fund tokens can then be traded via a cryptoexchange or ATS. Each transaction can be recorded to a distributedledger such as Crypto Ledger(s) 155.

In exemplary embodiments implementing direct redemption of digital fundtokens, the fund redemption module 220 redeems digital fund tokensdirectly by releasing the underlying assets from the segregatedescrow-type account and destroying the digital fund token. In exemplaryembodiments implementing indirection creation of digital fund tokens,the fund redemption module 220 redeems digital fund tokens and separatesthe digital fund tokens into the digital fund token's underlyingsecurities digital tokens (for example digital representations ofsecurities). Owners of the fund shares can request such a transaction.The transaction, however, may be initiated by the manager of a fund.

Fund manager 130 can be the manager of an ETF, mutual fund, index fund,etc. Fund manager 130 can receive securities from the owner of suchsecurities and agree to initiate a process to create one or more fundshares. In embodiments implementing indirect creation of digital fundtokens, once clearing bank 135 (or other entity) digitizes thesecurities, the digital tokens may be associated with a wallet of thefund manager 130. Fund manager 130 can transfer the digital tokens tothe Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform 125 for creation ofdigital fund tokens. Once the digital fund tokens are created andtransferred back to the fund manager 130's wallet, the digital fundtokens can be traded on one or more Crypto Exchange(s) 150 or CryptoLedger(s) 155.

Clearing bank 135 can hold non-digital securities in a fund manager130's account and create the digital tokens (digital representation ofthe non-digital security). The digital token may be a one-for-onerelationship with the security (such as each digital token representsone share of a security) or the digital token may represent differentquantities of the security (such as each digital token represents 100shares of a security).

Crypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform 125 is communicably coupledwith one or more Alternative Trading System(s) (“ATS(s)”) 145, CryptoExchange(s) 150, and Crypto Ledger(s) 155 through network 140.

Network 120 and network 140 can be the same network or can be separatenetworks and can be any combination of local area and/or wide areanetworks, using wired and/or wireless communication systems. Eithernetwork 120 or network 140 could be or could use any one or more of thefollowing protocols/technologies: Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 or Wi-Fi,worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), cellulartelecommunication (such as 3G, 4G, 5G), CDMA, cable, digital subscriberline (DSL), etc. Similarly, the networking protocols used on network 120and network 140 may include multiprotocol label switching (MPLS),transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), User DatagramProtocol (UDP), hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), simple mailtransfer protocol (SMTP) and file transfer protocol (FTP). Dataexchanged over network 120 and network 140 may be represented usingtechnologies, languages and/or formats including hypertext markuplanguage (HTML) or extensible markup language (XML). In addition, all orsome links can be encrypted using conventional encryption technologiessuch as secure sockets layer (SSL), transport layer security (TLS), andInternet Protocol security (IPSec).

ATS(s) 145 are non-exchange trading systems that find counterparties fortransactions by matching buyers and sellers. ATS(s) 145 are analternative to traditional stock exchanges. Examples of ATS(s) 145include electronic communication networks (ECNs), crossing networks,dark pools, and call markets. ATS(s) 145 receive digitally signed orderssuch as FIX orders, find potential buy/sell order matches to tradedigital assets, and contain a state of the order book which records thestate of the orders.

Crypto Exchanges(s) 150 are exchanges that trade digital transactionalitems such as digital fund tokens, digital shares of stock, digitalbonds, and crypto currencies. Digital shares of stock may be of the sameclass of stock as securities listed on traditional exchanges. Ownershipof the digital transactional items in Crypto Exchange(s) 150 can berecorded on one or more distributed ledgers such as Crypto Ledger(s)155. Crypto Exchange(s) 150 receive digitally signed crypto transactions(such as orders, cancellations, etc.) to effectuate trades.

Crypto Ledger(s) 155 are distributed ledgers that record economictransactions such as the creation of a digital fund token from two ormore digital tokens or a sale of digital transactional items in exchangefor funds. Crypto Ledger(s) 155 vary per unit. For example, Bitcoin usesa distributed public ledger called the block chain. When CryptoLedger(s) 155 receive a transaction signed with the proper key fromCrypto Fund Creation and Redemption Platform 125 and the transaction isverified by network nodes, the Crypto Ledger(s) 155 move the assets tothe proper addressed account (such as manager wallet, creation wallet,redemption wallet, customer wallet, committed wallet) by recording thetransaction (such as adding a block chain into the ledger).

Various data stores can be used to manage storage and access to digitaltokens, digital fund tokens, user information, and other data. The datastores may be distributed data stores such as Crypto Ledger(s) 155. Thedata stores may be a data repository of a set of integrated objects thatare modeled using classes defined in database schemas. Data stores mayfurther include flat files that can store data. Crypto Fund Creation andRedemption Platform 125 and/or other servers may collect and/or accessdata from the data stores.

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of components within Crypto Creation andRedemption Platform 125 according to one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure. According to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 ,Crypto Creation and Redemption Platform 125 can include memory 205, oneor more processor(s) 210, fund creation module 215 and fund redemptionmodule 220. Other embodiments may include some, all, or none of thesemodules and components along with other modules, applications, and/orcomponents. Still yet, some embodiments may incorporate two or more ofthese modules and components into a single module and/or associate aportion of the functionality of one or more of these modules with adifferent module. For example, in one embodiment, fund creation module215 and fund redemption module 220 can be combined into a singlecomponent.

Memory 205 can be any device, mechanism, or populated data structureused for storing information. In accordance with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure, memory 205 can be or include, for example, any typeof volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, and/or dynamic memory. Forexample, memory 205 can be random access memory, memory storage devices,optical memory devices, magnetic media, floppy disks, magnetic tapes,hard drives, erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs),electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), compactdiscs, DVDs, and/or the like. In accordance with some embodiments,memory 205 may include one or more disk drives, flash drives, one ormore databases, one or more tables, one or more files, local cachememories, processor cache memories, relational databases, flatdatabases, and/or the like. In addition, those of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate many additional devices and techniques for storinginformation which can be used as memory 205.

Memory 205 may be used to store instructions for running one or moreapplications or modules on processor(s) 210. For example, memory 205could be used in one or more embodiments to house all or some of theinstructions needed to execute the functionality of fund creation module215 and fund redemption module 220.

In exemplary embodiments implementing indirect creation of digital fundtokens, fund creation module 215 can receive digital tokens into acreation wallet. The creation wallet may be controlled by Crypto FundCreation and Redemption Platform 125. The digital tokens may have beencreated by a clearing bank 135 and placed into a manager wallet which iscontrolled by the fund manager 130. The manager wallet and the creationwallet may each have an associated key pair where each key pair includesone private key and one public key. The two parts of each key pair aremathematically linked.

In exemplary embodiments implementing indirect creation of digital fundtokens, the transaction transferring the digital tokens from the managerwallet to the creation wallet can include an indication of thecomposition of each fund share, the digital tokens, and a public key oraddress of the creation wallet. The transaction can be signed with theprivate key of the manager wallet to transfer the digital tokens intothe creation wallet. Upon receipt of the digital tokens and thecomposition of the fund shares, fund creation module 215 creates digitalfund tokens from the digital tokens by combining the appropriatequantities and types of digital tokens.

Once the digital fund tokens are created, fund creation module 215transfers the digital fund tokens from the creation wallet to themanager wallet. The transaction may include a public key of the managerwallet and the digital fund tokens and can be signed with the privatekey of the creation wallet.

The transactions of transferring the digital tokens to the creationwallet, creating the digital fund tokens, and transferring the digitalfund token to the manager wallet can be recorded to a distributedledger, allowing for transparency in ownership and composition of thedigital fund tokens.

Fund redemption module 220 can receive a redemption transaction requestfrom a manager. The redemption transaction request may include digitalfund tokens that are stored in the manager wallet and a public key (forexample address) of a redemption wallet. In some embodiments,instructions on how to redeem digital securities from the digital fundtoken or information on the composition of the digital fund token areincluded in the redemption transaction request. The redemptiontransaction request may be signed by a private key of the managerwallet.

In exemplary embodiments implementing indirect redemption of digitalfund tokens, fund redemption module 220 can create a transaction totransfer the digital tokens to the manager wallet. The transaction caninclude the digital tokens, a public key of the manager wallet, and anindication of the redemption transaction. The transaction can be signedwith a private key of the redemption wallet. The transactions oftransferring the digital fund tokens to the redemption wallet, redeemingthe digital fund tokens for digital securities (for example recordingthat one less fund share exists and additional digital securities nowexist), and transferring the digital tokens to the manager wallet can berecorded to a distributed ledger.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process for directly creating Crypto Fund sharesfrom the underlying assets. An owner of securities can, upon request,send the non-digital securities to a fund manager (302). The securitiescan include various types of stocks, commodities, bonds, or othertransactional items in various quantities (such as 10,000 shares ofsecurity A, 500 shares of security B). The fund manager may agree tocreation of fund shares and request the manager clearing bank to createdigital representations of the securities (304). By such agreement andrequest, the manager clearing bank can hold the non-digital securitiesin an account owned by the manager (306). The manager can requestcreation of digital representations of at least one fund (for exampledigital fund tokens) (308). The fund creation module can create the atleast one digital fund token (310) or another digital representation ofthe multiple security asset.

Upon creation, the at least one digital fund token, including ownershiphistory, are recorded to a distributed ledger (312). After the at leastone digital fund token is created, the Crypto Fund creation modulecreates a transaction to transfer the at least one digital fund token tothe manager wallet (314). The transaction can include the digital fundtokens, a public address or key of the manager wallet, a description ofthe digital fund tokens, and/or transaction information. The transactionis signed with the private key of the creation wallet. The digital fundtokens are transferred after the network nodes of the distributed ledgerverify ownership of the digital fund tokens and the signature of thecreation wallet (316). The manager wallet can hold the digital fundtokens (318) or place a sell order to sell the digital fund tokens in asecondary market (such as cryptographic exchange or other ATS) (320), asdesired by the owner. In some embodiments, the digital fund tokens maybe shorted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process 400 of directly creatingCrypto Fund shares. Receiving operation 402 places the underlyingsecurities into escrow. Creating operation 404 creates digital fundtokens (for example Crypto Fund shares). The digital fund tokens can betraded via a crypto exchange or ATS. Recording operation 406 records thecreation of the digital fund token on a distributed ledger. In exemplaryembodiments, a further creating operation creates a transaction totransfer the digital fund tokens back to the manager's digital account.The transfer can be effectuated when the transaction to move the digitalfund tokens is signed with a private key of the digital creation accountand the network nodes of a distributed ledger agree with the ownershiphistory.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process for directly redeeming Crypto Fund shares.The Crypto Fund shares (for example digital fund tokens) are traded inthe secondary market. A manager can purchase digital fund tokens byplacing a buy order for at least one digital fund token (such as onbehalf of a customer or the fund itself) (502). Once the at least onedigital fund token have been purchased by the manager or are otherwiseheld by the manager, the crypto exchange system transfers the at leastone digital fund token to the manager's wallet (for example fourthaddressed account) and such transfer is recorded on the distributedledger (504). The manager may request redemption of the non-digitalsecurities (506). The fund redemption module may query the distributedledger to ensure that the manager is the recorded owner of the at leastone digital fund token (508). After the distributed ledger confirmsownership of the digital tokens (510), the fund redemption module canredeem the non-digital securities (512) and transfer the non-digitalsecurities to the manager (514). Once the non-digital securities areredeemed and transferred, the at least one digital fund token isdestroyed (516) and its destruction is recorded on the distributedledger (518). Once the manager receives the non-digital securities(520), the manager may then transfer the non-digital securities to theowner of the securities (522). The owner of the securities can retirethe securities to his or her inventory (524).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process 600 of directly redeemingCrypto Fund shares. In receiving operation 602, a redemption request canbe received at a redemption wallet. The redemption request may transferdigital fund tokens (for example Crypto Fund shares) to the redemptionwallet and may further include instructions on how to redeem theunderlying securities. Redeeming operation 604 may redeem the underlyingsecurities composing the digital fund token in exchange for the digitalfund token. Creating operation 606 can create a transaction to releasethe underlying securities from escrow. The transfer can be effectuatedwhen the transaction to move the digital tokens is signed with a privatekey of the digital creation account and the network nodes of adistributed ledger agree with the ownership history. Destroyingoperation 608 can destroy the digital fund token once it has beenredeemed.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process for indirectly creating Crypto Fund shares.An owner of securities can, upon request, send the non-digitalsecurities to a fund manager (702). The securities can include varioustypes of stocks, commodities, bonds, or other transactional items invarious quantities (such as 10,000 shares of security A, 500 shares ofsecurity B). The fund manager may agree to creation of fund shares andrequest the manager clearing bank to create digital representations ofthe securities (704). By such agreement and request, the managerclearing bank can hold the non-digital securities in an account owned bythe manager (706). The manager can request creation of digitalrepresentations of the securities (for example digital tokens) (708).The manager clearing bank can create the digital tokens (710). Thedigital representations of the securities can be digital tokens, whereeach of the digital tokens represents one or more shares of a particularsecurity. Upon creation, the digital tokens, including ownershiphistory, are recorded to a distributed ledger (712). The managerclearing bank can associate the digital tokens with the manager wallet,which may be referred to as a first addressed account (714).

The manager creates a transaction to transfer the digital tokens to acreation wallet (for example second addressed account) where the digitaltokens will be committed to a fund (716). The transaction can includethe digital tokens, a public key or address of the creation wallet, andan indication of the composition of a fund share, and the transactioncan be signed by the private key of the manager wallet. After thenetwork nodes of the distributed ledger verify the transaction bychecking the ownership history and whether the transaction was signed bythe private key of the manager wallet, the digital tokens aretransferred to the creation wallet and the distributed ledger recordsthe transfer (718). Prior to the commit transaction taking place, theCrypto Fund creation module can verify that the digital tokens areassociated with the manager wallet by checking the ownership recorded onthe distributed ledger using the public key of the manager wallet.

Next, the Crypto Fund creation module can create digital fund tokenscomprised of specified types and quantities of the digital tokens (720).Thus, each digital fund token represents a share of the fund (such as anETF, mutual fund, index fund, etc.). For example, a digital fund tokenmay include 50 digital tokens representing 50 shares of security A and100 digital tokens representing 200 shares of security B. Creation ofthe digital fund tokens from the digital tokens is recorded on thedistributed ledger (722).

After the digital fund tokens are created, the Crypto Fund creationmodule creates a transaction to transfer the digital fund tokens fromthe creation wallet to the manager wallet (724). The transaction caninclude the digital fund tokens, a public address or key of the managerwallet, a description of the digital fund tokens, and/or transactioninformation. The transaction is signed with the private key of thecreation wallet. The digital fund tokens are transferred after thenetwork nodes of the distributed ledger verify ownership of the digitalfund tokens and the signature of the creation wallet (726). In someembodiments, prior to the transaction, the manager can verify that thedigital tokens are associated with the creation wallet by checking theownership recorded on the distributed ledger using the public key of thecreation wallet. The manager wallet can hold the digital fund tokens(728) or place a sell order to sell the digital fund tokens in asecondary market (such as cryptographic exchange or other ATS) (730), asdesired by the owner. In some embodiments, the digital fund tokens maybe shorted.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process 800 of indirectly creatingCrypto Fund shares. Receiving operation 802 receives digital tokens froma manager wallet into a creation wallet. The digital tokens can bedigital representations of securities owned or controlled by themanager. When the digital tokens are received into the creation wallet,additional information regarding a fund share's composition also may bereceived, including quantities and types of securities that compriseeach fund share. Creating operation 804 creates digital fund tokens (forexample Crypto Fund shares) by combining the digital tokens inaccordance with the assigned composition. The digital fund tokens can betraded via a crypto exchange or ATS. Creating operation 806 creates atransaction to transfer the digital fund tokens back to the manager'sdigital account. The transfer can be effectuated when the transaction tomove the digital fund tokens is signed with a private key of the digitalcreation account and the network nodes of a distributed ledger agreewith the ownership history.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process for indirectly redeeming Crypto Fundshares. The Crypto Fund shares (for example digital fund tokens) aretraded in the secondary market. A manager can purchase digital fundtokens by placing a buy order for the digital fund tokens (such as onbehalf of a customer or the fund itself) (902). Once the digital fundtokens have been purchased by the manager or are otherwise held by themanager, the crypto exchange system transfers the digital fund tokens tothe manager's wallet (for example fourth addressed account) and suchtransfer is recorded on the distributed ledger (904). The manager maycreate a transaction to redeem the individual digital securities (forexample digital tokens) from the digital fund tokens (906). Theredemption transaction request may include the digital fund tokens, apublic address of a redemption wallet (for example third addressedaccount), and instructions to complete the redemption transaction. Theredemption transaction request can be signed with the private key of themanager's wallet, transferring the digital fund tokens to the redemptionwallet. After the network nodes verify ownership and signatures, thedigital fund tokens are transferred from the manager's wallet to theredemption wallet and the transfer is recorded on the distributed ledger(908). In some embodiments, the manager wallet in the FIG. 7 is the sameas the manager wallet in FIG. 9 . In some embodiments, the creationwallet and the redemption wallet are the same wallet.

Next, Crypto Fund redemption module redeems the digital tokens from thedigital fund tokens, thereby removing the digital fund tokens from thefund and converting the digital fund tokens into the individualsecurities that composed the fund shares (910). The redemptiontransaction can be recorded to a distributed ledger so there is ahistory of when the digital tokens were redeemed from the digital fundtoken, including the ownership history (912). The Crypto Fund redemptionmodule can create a transaction to transfer the digital tokens to themanager's wallet (914). Such transaction can include the digital tokens,a public key of the manager's wallet, and a notice that the digitaltoken funds have been redeemed for the digital securities. Thetransaction may be signed by the private key of the redemption wallet.Once the network nodes have verified ownership history and thesignature, the digital tokens can be transferred to the manager's walletand recorded to the distributed ledger (916).

Once the digital securities are in the manager's wallet, or upon requestfrom the manager, the manager may request redemption of the non-digitalsecurities (918). The manager's clearing bank may query the distributedledger to ensure that the manager is the recorded owner of the digitaltokens (920). After the distributed ledger confirms ownership of thedigital tokens (922), the manager's clearing bank can redeem thenon-digital securities (924) and transfer the non-digital securities tothe manager (926). Once the non-digital securities are redeemed andtransferred, the at least one digital fund token is destroyed (928) andits destruction is recorded on the distributed ledger (930). Once themanager receives the non-digital securities (932), the manager may thenthen transfer the non-digital securities to the owner of the securities(934). The owner of the securities can retire the securities to his orher inventory (936).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process 1000 of redeeming CryptoFund shares. In receiving operation 1002, a redemption request can bereceived at a redemption wallet. The redemption request may transferdigital fund tokens (for example Crypto Fund shares) to the redemptionwallet and may further include instructions on how to redeem the digitaltokens that compose the digital fund token. Redeeming operation 1004 mayredeem the digital securities composing the digital fund token inexchange for the digital fund token. Creating operation 1006 can createa transaction to transfer the digital tokens to a manager wallet. Thetransfer can be effectuated when the transaction to move the digitaltokens is signed with a private key of the digital creation account andthe network nodes of a distributed ledger agree with the ownershiphistory.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process 1100 of creating multiplesecurity asset shares. Generating operation 1102 generates a firsttransaction to transfer digital representations of securities from afirst addressed account such as a manager wallet to a second addressedaccount such as a creation account. The first transaction can include anindication of a composition of an exchange traded fund share (or othermultiple security asset). Signing operation 1104 electronically signsthe first transaction. Creating operation 1106 creates digital fundtokens using the digital representations of securities such that eachdigital fund token is comprised of the composition of an exchange tradedfund share (or other multiple security asset). Communicating operation1108 communicates the creation of the digital fund tokens in place ofthe digital representations of the securities to a distributed ledger.Generating operation 1110 generates a second transaction to transfer thedigital fund tokens from the second addressed account to the firstaddressed account. Signing operation 1112 electronically signs thesecond transaction with a private key of the second addressed account.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process 1200 of redeeming multiplesecurity asset shares. Generating operation 1202 generates a firsttransaction to transfer digital fund tokens from a first addressedaccount such as a manager wallet to a second addressed account such as aredemption wallet. The digital fund tokens are comprised of more thanone digital representations of securities. Signing operation 1204electronically signs the first transaction with a private key of thefirst addressed account. Redeeming operation 1206 redeems digitalrepresentations of securities from the digital fund tokens.Communicating operation 1208 communicates the redemption of the digitalrepresentations of securities in place of the digital fund tokens.Generation operation 1210 generates a second transaction to transfer thedigital representations of securities from the second addressed accountto the first addressed account. Signing operation 1212 electronicallysigns the second transaction.

Computer System Overview

Embodiments of the present disclosure include various steps andoperations, which have been described above. A variety of these stepsand operations may be performed by hardware components or may beembodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to causea general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may beperformed by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Assuch, FIG. 13 is an example of a computer system 1300 with whichembodiments of the present disclosure may be utilized. According to thepresent example, the computer system 1300 includes an interconnect 1310,at least one processor(s) 1320, at least one communication port(s) 1330,a main memory 1340, a removable storage media 1350, a read only memory1360, and a mass storage device 1370.

Processor(s) 1320 can be any known processor. Communication port(s) 1330can be or include, for example, any of an RS-232 port for use with amodem-based dialup connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, or a Gigabit portusing copper or fiber. The nature of communication port(s) 1330 may bechosen depending on a network such a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide AreaNetwork (WAN), or any network to which the computer system 1700connects.

Main memory 1340 can be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamicstorage device(s) commonly known in the art. Read only memory 1360 canbe any static storage device(s) such as Programmable Read Only Memory(PROM) chips for storing static information such as instructions forprocessor(s) 1320.

Mass storage device 1370 can be used to store information andinstructions. For example, hard disks such as the Adaptec® family ofSCSI drives, an optical disc, an array of disks such as RAID, such asthe Adaptec family of RAID drives, or any other mass storage devices maybe used.

Interconnect 1310 can be or include one or more buses, bridges,controllers, adapters, and/or point-to-point connections. Interconnect1310 communicatively couples processor(s) 1320 with the other memory,storage, and communication blocks. Interconnect 1310 can be a PCI/PCI-Xor SCSI based system bus depending on the storage devices used.

Removable storage media 1350 can be any kind of external hard-drives,floppy drives, Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), CompactDisc-Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Video Disc-Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM).

The components described above are meant to exemplify some types ofpossibilities. In no way should the aforementioned examples limit thedisclosure, as they are only exemplary embodiments.

Terminology

Brief definitions of terms, abbreviations, and phrases used throughoutthis application are given below.

The terms “connected” or “coupled” and related terms are used in anoperational sense and are not necessarily limited to a direct physicalconnection or coupling. Thus, for example, two devices may be coupleddirectly, or via one or more intermediary media or devices. As anotherexample, devices may be coupled in such a way that information can bepassed there between, while not sharing any physical connection with oneanother. Based on the disclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate a variety of ways in which connection orcoupling exists in accordance with the aforementioned definition.

The phrases “in some embodiments,” “according to some embodiments,” “inthe embodiments shown,” “in other embodiments,” “embodiments,” and thelike generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristicfollowing the phrase is included in at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, and may be included in more than one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. In addition, such phrases do not necessarilyrefer to the same embodiments or different embodiments.

If the specification states a component or feature “may,” “can,”“could,” or “might” be included or have a characteristic, thatparticular component or feature is not required to be included or havethe characteristic.

The term “responsive” includes completely or partially responsive.

The term “module” refers broadly to a software, hardware, or firmware(or any combination thereof) component. Modules are typically functionalcomponents that can generate useful data or other output using specifiedinput(s). A module may or may not be self-contained. An applicationprogram (also called an “application”) may include one or more modules,or a module can include one or more application programs.

The term “network” generally refers to a group of interconnected devicescapable of exchanging information. A network may be as few as severalpersonal computers on a Local Area Network (LAN) or as large as theInternet, a worldwide network of computers. As used herein, “network” isintended to encompass any network capable of transmitting informationfrom one entity to another. In some cases, a network may be comprised ofmultiple networks, even multiple heterogeneous networks, such as one ormore border networks, voice networks, broadband networks, financialnetworks, service provider networks, Internet Service Provider (ISP)networks, and/or Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs),interconnected via gateways operable to facilitate communicationsbetween and among the various networks.

Also, for the sake of illustration, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure have herein been described in the context of computerprograms, physical components, and logical interactions within moderncomputer networks. Importantly, while these embodiments describe variousembodiments of the present disclosure in relation to modern computernetworks and programs, the method and apparatus described herein areequally applicable to other systems, devices, and networks as oneskilled in the art will appreciate. As such, the illustratedapplications of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not meantto be limiting, but instead are examples. Other systems, devices, andnetworks to which embodiments of the present disclosure are applicableinclude, for example, other types of communication and computer devicesand systems. More specifically, embodiments are applicable tocommunication systems, services, and devices such as cell phone networksand compatible devices. In addition, embodiments are applicable to alllevels of computing from the personal computer to large networkmainframes and servers.

In conclusion, the present disclosure provides novel systems, methods,and arrangements for creating, redeeming, and trading multiple securityassets. While detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments of thedisclosure have been given above, various alternatives, modifications,and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutvarying from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, while theembodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope ofthis disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinationsof features and embodiments that do not include all of the describedfeatures. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fallwithin the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.Therefore, the above description should not be taken as limiting.

Example Embodiments

Example 1 includes an asset trading system utilizing a distributedledger, the asset trading system comprising: at least one processor; andat least one computer readable storage medium having instructions storedthereon, which when executed by the at least one processor causes theasset trading system to: when a creation request to create a digitalfund token representing at least one share of a fund having a pluralityof different assets (i) is received, (ii) is electronically signed witha private key associated with a first addressed account, and (iii)indicates a composition of the at least one share of the fund: place theplurality of different assets represented by the at least one share ofthe fund into an escrow account; create the digital fund token, whereinthe digital fund token indicates the composition of the share of thefund; and record the creation of the digital fund token on a distributedledger.

Example 2 includes the asset trading system of Example 1, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor further causesthe asset trading system to: when the creation request to create thedigital fund token representing the at least one share of the fundhaving the plurality of different assets (i) is received, (ii) iselectronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account, and (iii) indicates the composition of the at leastone share of the fund: prior to creating the digital fund token, receiveconfirmation from the distributed ledger that the plurality of differentassets represented by the at least one share of the fund are associatedwith the first addressed account.

Example 3 includes the asset trading system of any of Examples 1-2,wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processorfurther causes the asset trading system to: when the creation request tocreate the digital fund token representing the at least one share of thefund having the plurality of different assets (i) is received, (ii) iselectronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account, and (iii) indicates the composition of the at leastone share of the fund: prior to creating the digital fund token, createa plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets; and record the creation of the plurality of digital tokens onthe distributed ledger; as part of creating the digital fund token,place the plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality ofdifferent assets into an escrow state; and record the escrow state ofthe plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets on the distributed ledger.

Example 4 includes the asset trading system of any of Examples 1-3,wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processorfurther causes the asset trading system to: when a redemption request toredeem the digital fund token representing the at least one share of thefund having the plurality of different assets (i) is received and (ii)is electronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account: release the plurality of different assets representedby the at least one share of the fund from the escrow account; destroythe digital fund token; and record the destruction of the digital fundtoken on the distributed ledger.

Example 5 includes the asset trading system of Example 4, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor further causesthe asset trading system to: when the redemption request to redeem thedigital fund token representing the at least one share of the fundhaving the plurality of different assets (i) is received and (ii) iselectronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account: prior to destroying the digital fund token, removethe plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets from the escrow state; and record the removal of the escrow stateof the plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality ofdifferent assets on the distributed ledger.

Example 6 includes the asset trading system of any of Examples 1-5,wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processorfurther causes the asset trading system to: when a transfer request totransfer the digital fund token representing the at least one share ofthe fund having the plurality of different assets (i) is received and(ii) is electronically signed with a private key associated with thefirst addressed account: transfer the digital fund token from the firstaddressed account to a second addressed account; and record the transferof the digital fund token on the distributed ledger.

Example 7 includes the asset trading system of any of Examples 1-6,wherein the fund is one of an exchange traded fund, a mutual fund, anindex fund, a bond fund, a commodity fund, a currency fund, and a realestate fund.

Example 8 includes a method of creating and redeeming digital fundtokens using a distributed ledger, the method comprising: when acreation request to create a digital fund token representing at leastone share of a fund having a plurality of different assets (i) isreceived, (ii) is electronically signed with a private key associatedwith a first addressed account, and (iii) indicates a composition of theat least one share of the fund: placing the plurality of differentassets represented by the at least one share of the fund into an escrowaccount; creating the digital fund token, wherein the digital fund tokenindicates the composition of the share of the fund; and recording thecreation of the digital fund token on a distributed ledger.

Example 9 includes the method of Example 8, further comprising: when thecreation request to create the digital fund token representing the atleast one share of the fund having the plurality of different assets (i)is received, (ii) is electronically signed with the private keyassociated with the first addressed account, and (iii) indicates thecomposition of the at least one share of the fund: prior to creating thedigital fund token, receiving confirmation from the distributed ledgerthat the plurality of different assets represented by the at least oneshare of the fund are associated with the first addressed account.

Example 10 includes the method of Example 9, further comprising: whenthe creation request to create the digital fund token representing theat least one share of the fund having the plurality of different assets(i) is received, (ii) is electronically signed with the private keyassociated with the first addressed account, and (iii) indicates thecomposition of the at least one share of the fund: prior to creating thedigital fund token, creating a plurality of digital tokens representingthe plurality of different assets; and recording the creation of theplurality of digital tokens on the distributed ledger; as part ofcreating the digital fund token, placing the plurality of digital tokensrepresenting the plurality of different assets into an escrow state; andrecording the escrow state of the plurality of digital tokensrepresenting the plurality of different assets on the distributedledger;

Example 11 includes the method of any of Examples 8-10, furthercomprising: when a redemption request to redeem the digital fund tokenrepresenting the at least one share of the fund having the plurality ofdifferent assets (i) is received and (ii) is electronically signed withthe private key associated with the first addressed account: releasingthe plurality of different assets represented by the at least one shareof the fund from the escrow account; destroying the digital fund token;and recording the destruction of the digital fund token on thedistributed ledger.

Example 12 includes the method of Example 11, further comprising: whenthe redemption request to redeem the digital fund token representing theat least one share of the fund having the plurality of different assets(i) is received and (ii) is electronically signed with the private keyassociated with the first addressed account: prior to destroying thedigital fund token, removing the plurality of digital tokensrepresenting the plurality of different assets from the escrow state;and recording the removal of the escrow state of the plurality ofdigital tokens representing the plurality of different assets on thedistributed ledger.

Example 13 includes the method of any of Examples 8-12, furthercomprising: when a transfer request to transfer the digital fund tokenrepresenting the at least one share of the fund having the plurality ofdifferent assets (i) is received and (ii) is electronically signed witha private key associated with the first addressed account: transferringthe digital fund token from the first addressed account to a secondaddressed account; and recording the transfer of the digital fund tokenon the distributed ledger.

Example 14 includes the method of any of Examples 8-13, wherein the fundis one of an exchange traded fund, a mutual fund, an index fund, a bondfund, a commodity fund, a currency fund, and a real estate fund.

Example 15 includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumincluding a set of instructions that, when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause a machine to: when a creation request to create adigital fund token representing at least one share of a fund having aplurality of different assets (i) is received, (ii) is electronicallysigned with a private key associated with a first addressed account, and(iii) indicates a composition of the at least one share of the fund:place the plurality of different assets represented by the at least oneshare of the fund into an escrow account; create the digital fund token,wherein the digital fund token indicates the composition of the share ofthe fund; and record the creation of the digital fund token on adistributed ledger.

Example 16 includes the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof Example 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors, further cause the machine to: when the creation request tocreate the digital fund token representing the at least one share of thefund having the plurality of different assets (i) is received, (ii) iselectronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account, and (iii) indicates the composition of the at leastone share of the fund: prior to creating the digital fund token, receiveconfirmation from the distributed ledger that the plurality of differentassets represented by the at least one share of the fund are associatedwith the first addressed account.

Example 17 includes the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof Example 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors, further cause the machine to: when the creation request tocreate the digital fund token representing the at least one share of thefund having the plurality of different assets (i) is received, (ii) iselectronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account, and (iii) indicates the composition of the at leastone share of the fund: prior to creating the digital fund token, createa plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets; and record the creation of the plurality of digital tokens onthe distributed ledger; as part of creating the digital fund token,place the plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality ofdifferent assets into an escrow state; and record the escrow state ofthe plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets on the distributed ledger.

Example 18 includes the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof any of Examples 15-17, wherein the instructions, when executed by oneor more processors, further cause the machine to: when a redemptionrequest to redeem the digital fund token representing the at least oneshare of the fund having the plurality of different assets (i) isreceived and (ii) is electronically signed with the private keyassociated with the first addressed account: release the plurality ofdifferent assets represented by the at least one share of the fund fromthe escrow account; destroy the digital fund token; and record thedestruction of the digital fund token on the distributed ledger.

Example 19 includes the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof Example 18, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors, further cause the machine to: when the redemption request toredeem the digital fund token representing the at least one share of thefund having the plurality of different assets (i) is received and (ii)is electronically signed with the private key associated with the firstaddressed account: prior to destroying the digital fund token, removethe plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets from the escrow state; and record the removal of the escrow stateof the plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality ofdifferent assets on the distributed ledger.

Example 20 includes the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof any of Examples 15-19, wherein the fund is one of an exchange tradedfund, a mutual fund, an index fund, a bond fund, a commodity fund, acurrency fund, and a real estate fund.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented cryptographic assettrading system comprising: circuitry configured to: receive a creationrequest (i) including a digital signature of a first cryptographic keyassociated with a first account and (ii) including a composition of atleast one share of a fund, the composition of the at least one share ofthe fund including a respective quantity of each of a plurality ofdifferent assets in the at least one share of the fund; and in responseto receiving the creation request: place the respective quantity of eachof the plurality of different assets represented by the at least oneshare of the fund into an escrow account associated with the computerimplemented cryptographic asset trading system as collateral for adigital fund token serving as a digital representation of the fund;create and transfer the digital fund token to the first account (i) bycryptographically signing with a second cryptographic key associatedwith the computer implemented cryptographic asset trading system and(ii) based on the respective quantity of each of the plurality ofdifferent assets, the digital fund token including the composition ofthe at least one share of the fund, the composition of the at least oneshare of the fund including the respective quantity of each of theplurality of different assets in the at least one share of the fundrepresented by the digital fund token; and record the creation andtransfer of the digital fund token to the first account on a distributedledger thereby requiring cryptographic signing with the firstcryptographic key associated with the first account to: (i) redeem thedigital fund token from the first account or (ii) transfer the digitalfund token from the first account to a second account.
 2. The computerimplemented cryptographic asset trading system of claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to: in response to receiving thecreation request and prior to creating the digital fund token: receiveconfirmation from the distributed ledger that the plurality of differentassets represented by the at least one share of the fund are associatedwith the first account.
 3. The computer implemented cryptographic assettrading system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configuredto: in response to receiving the creation request and prior to creatingthe digital fund token: create a plurality of digital tokensrepresenting the plurality of different assets; and record the creationof the plurality of digital tokens on the distributed ledger; and inresponse to receiving the creation request and as part of creating thedigital fund token: place the plurality of digital tokens representingthe plurality of different assets into an escrow state; and record theescrow state of the plurality of digital tokens representing theplurality of different assets on the distributed ledger.
 4. The computerimplemented cryptographic asset trading system of claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to: receive a redemption requestincluding the digital signature of the first cryptographic keyassociated with the first account; and in response to receiving theredemption request: release the plurality of different assetsrepresented by the at least one share of the fund from the escrowaccount; destroy the digital fund token; and record the destruction ofthe digital fund token on the distributed ledger.
 5. The computerimplemented cryptographic asset trading system of claim 4, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to: in response to receiving theredemption request and prior to destroying the digital fund token:remove a plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality ofdifferent assets from an escrow state; and record the removal of theplurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets from the escrow state on the distributed ledger.
 6. The computerimplemented cryptographic asset trading system of claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to: receive a transfer request includingthe digital signature of the first cryptographic key associated with thefirst account; and in response to receiving the transfer request:transfer the digital fund token from the first account to the secondaccount; and record the transfer of the digital fund token from thefirst account to the second account on the distributed ledger.
 7. Thecomputer implemented cryptographic asset trading system of claim 1,wherein the circuitry is further configured to: place the respectivequantity of each of the plurality of different assets represented by theat least one share of the fund into the escrow account as collateral forthe digital fund token includes placing a quantity of at least one of anexchange traded fund, a mutual fund, an index fund, a bond fund, acommodity fund, a currency fund, and a real estate fund into the escrowaccount as collateral for the digital fund token.
 8. A methodcomprising: receiving, using circuitry, a creation request (i) includinga digital signature of a first cryptographic key associated with a firstaccount and (ii) including a composition of at least one share of afund, the composition of the at least one share of the fund including arespective quantity of each of a plurality of different assets in the atleast one share of the fund; and in response to receiving the creationrequest: placing, using the circuitry, the respective quantity of eachof the plurality of different assets represented by the at least oneshare of the fund into an escrow account associated with a computerimplemented cryptographic asset trading system as collateral for adigital fund token serving as a digital representation of the fund;creating and transferring, using the circuitry, the digital fund tokento the first account (i) by cryptographically signing with a secondcryptographic key associated with the computer implemented cryptographicasset trading system and (ii) based on the respective quantity of eachof the plurality of different assets, the digital fund token includingthe composition of the at least one share of the fund, the compositionof the at least one share of the fund including the respective quantityof each of the plurality of different assets in the at least one shareof the fund represented by the digital fund token; and recording, usingthe circuitry, the creation and transfer of the digital fund token tothe first account on a distributed ledger thereby requiringcryptographic signing with the first cryptographic key associated withthe first account to: (i) redeem the digital fund token from the firstaccount or (ii) transfer the digital fund token from the first accountto a second account.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: inresponse to receiving the creation request and prior to creating thedigital fund token: receiving, using the circuitry, confirmation fromthe distributed ledger that the plurality of different assetsrepresented by the at least one share of the fund are associated withthe first account.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: inresponse to receiving the creation request and prior to creating thedigital fund token: creating, using the circuitry, a plurality ofdigital tokens representing the plurality of different assets; andrecording, using the circuitry, the creation of the plurality of digitaltokens on the distributed ledger; and in response to receiving thecreation request and as part of creating the digital fund token:placing, using the circuitry, the plurality of digital tokensrepresenting the plurality of different assets into an escrow state; andrecording, using the circuitry, the escrow state of the plurality ofdigital tokens representing the plurality of different assets on thedistributed ledger.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:receiving, using the circuitry, a redemption request including thedigital signature of the first cryptographic key associated with thefirst account; and in response to receiving the redemption request:releasing, using the circuitry, the plurality of different assetsrepresented by the at least one share of the fund from the escrowaccount; destroying, using the circuitry, the digital fund token; andrecording, using the circuitry, the destruction of the digital fundtoken on the distributed ledger.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: in response to receiving the redemption request and prior todestroying the digital fund token: removing, using the circuitry, aplurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets from an escrow state; and recording, using the circuitry, theremoval of the plurality of digital tokens representing the plurality ofdifferent assets from the escrow state on the distributed ledger. 13.The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving, using thecircuitry, a transfer request including the digital signature of thefirst cryptographic key associated with the first account; and inresponse to receiving the transfer request: transferring, using thecircuitry, the digital fund token from the first account to the secondaccount; and recording, using the circuitry, the transfer of the digitalfund token on the distributed ledger.
 14. The method of claim 8, whereinplacing the respective quantity of each of the plurality of differentassets represented by the at least one share of the fund into the escrowaccount as collateral for the digital fund token includes placing aquantity of at least one of an exchange traded fund, a mutual fund, anindex fund, a bond fund, a commodity fund, a currency fund, and a realestate fund into the escrow account as collateral for the digital fundtoken.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including aset of instructions that, when executed by programmable circuitry, causethe programmable circuitry to: receive a creation request (i) includinga digital signature of a first cryptographic key associated with a firstaccount and (ii) including a composition of at least one share of afund, the composition of the at least one share of the fund including arespective quantity of each of a plurality of different assets in the atleast one share of the fund; and in response to receiving the creationrequest: place the respective quantity of each of the plurality ofdifferent assets represented by the at least one share of the fund intoan escrow account associated with a computer implemented cryptographicasset trading system as collateral for a digital fund token serving as adigital representation of the fund; create and transfer the digital fundtoken to the first account (i) by cryptographically signing with asecond cryptographic key associated with the computer implementedcryptographic asset trading system and (ii) based on the respectivequantity of each of the plurality of different assets, the digital fundtoken including the composition of the at least one share of the fund,the composition of the at least one share of the fund including therespective quantity of each of the plurality of different assets in theat least one share of the fund represented by the digital fund token;and record the creation and transfer of the digital fund token to thefirst account on a distributed ledger thereby requiring cryptographicsigning with the first cryptographic key associated with the firstaccount to: (i) redeem the digital fund token from the first account or(ii) transfer the digital fund token from the first account to a secondaccount.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the programmablecircuitry, further cause the programmable circuitry to: in response toreceiving the creation request and prior to creating the digital fundtoken: receive confirmation from the distributed ledger that theplurality of different assets represented by the at least one share ofthe fund are associated with the first account.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions,when executed by the programmable circuitry, further cause theprogrammable circuitry to: in response to receiving the creation requestand prior to creating the digital fund token: create a plurality ofdigital tokens representing the plurality of different assets; andrecord the creation of the plurality of digital tokens on thedistributed ledger; and in response to receiving the creation requestand as part of creating the digital fund token: place the plurality ofdigital tokens representing the plurality of different assets into anescrow state; and record the escrow state of the plurality of digitaltokens representing the plurality of different assets on the distributedledger.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim17, wherein the instructions, when executed by the programmablecircuitry, further cause the programmable circuitry to: receive aredemption request including the digital signature of the firstcryptographic key associated with the first account; and in response toreceiving the redemption request: release the plurality of differentassets represented by the at least one share of the fund from the escrowaccount; destroy the digital fund token; and record the destruction ofthe digital fund token on the distributed ledger.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions,when executed by the programmable circuitry, further cause theprogrammable circuitry to: in response to receiving the redemptionrequest and prior to destroying the digital fund token: remove aplurality of digital tokens representing the plurality of differentassets from an escrow state; and record the removal of the plurality ofdigital tokens representing the plurality of different assets from theescrow state on the distributed ledger.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions,when executed by the programmable circuitry, cause the programmablecircuitry to: place the respective quantity of each of the plurality ofdifferent assets represented by the at least one share of the fund intothe escrow account as collateral for the digital fund token by placing aquantity of at least one of an exchange traded fund, a mutual fund, anindex fund, a bond fund, a commodity fund, a currency fund, and a realestate fund into the escrow account as collateral for the digital fundtoken.